Most users don’t need to read this section. But if your WiFi access point has no WPS button, or if you want to set a static IP address, or enable SSH access, this section is for you.
Reminder: Always remove and insert the SD card only when the base station is unplugged from the power outlet!
Configuration Using the Windows Application
The simplest way to configure the base station is to insert the SD card into your computer's card reader (running Windows), and launch the WinRtkBaseConfigure.exe application. You can find the application on the SD card, or download it from our GitHub repository using the provided link.
The app includes five configuration sections, which are described below. Check the boxes for the settings you want to change, then enter your values. When finished, click Save. The app will automatically detect the SD card and write the configuration to it. After that, safely eject the SD card by clicking “Eject” in the SD card’s context menu in the system tray. Then, reinsert the SD card back into the base station.
WiFi Network Connection
To configure WiFi, check the WiFi box and enter your SSID and password (key) in the Key field. If you're connecting to a hidden network, check the Hidden SSID box.
Adding a User
To add a user, check the user box and enter:
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LOGIN – the username
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PWD – the password (optional)
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SSH – the user's public SSH key (optional)
To load a public SSH key, click “Load SSH public key”, select your key file, and click Open. The app will suggest using your own public key (typically created in the “.ssh” directory when installing an SSH client), but you can select any key file.
Static IP for Ethernet
This section is for advanced/professional users only. Most home users can skip it.
To set a static IP for the Ethernet interface:
- Check the Ethernet IP box
- Set the mode to Static
- Enter the following:
- IP address of the base station
- Subnet prefix (typically 24 or 16)
- Gateway address (for internet access)
- DNS server address
If your network doesn’t have internet access, leave the DNS blank. If your setup involves a direct connection from the base station to a laptop (no router/gateway), leave the gateway blank.
Static IP for WiFi
This section is also for advanced users. Most home users do not need it. Setting a static IP for WiFi works exactly the same as for Ethernet. Follow the steps described above in the "Static IP for Ethernet”.
Configuration via Text File
If you don't have access to Windows computer, or if you prefer to understand the configuration process in more detail, you can configure the base station using a plain text editor.
To configure the system, insert the SD card into a card reader and create a file named system.txt in the root directory of the first partition on the card (this is usually the only visible partition in Windows).
This file should contain parameter-value pairs, each on its own line, using the format: parameter_name=value
If the value contains spaces, the entire value must be enclosed in double quotes. You can use any type of line ending — both Windows-style (\r\n) and Linux-style (\n) are supported.
The system.txt file is processed at startup by the Base Station, and deleted from the disk after it is applied. You can check whether the configuration was applied successfully (or if there were any errors) by visiting the Diagnostic page of the web interface. Scroll down to the section related to the RtkbaseSystemConfigure service. See the section “” for details on how to open the Diagnostic page.
WiFi Standard
Different countries allow different frequencies for WiFi operation, so the standard is set by choosing the country according to the ISO 3166-1 two-letter code. For example, the string country=LV means Latvia. For the USA, you should write COUNTRY=US.
Connecting to WiFi
The SSID (name) of the WiFi network is set in the SSID parameter, and the key (password) for access to the network is set in the KEY parameter (which can be omitted). For a network with a hidden SSID, add HIDDEN=Y.
For example:
SSID=$'A B C'
KEY=$'`\"$\'\\|/\x7F\u0409\u00B6'
HIDDEN=Y
The SSID and password, as well as the user password, can be defined using ANSI C string rules, allowing the use of characters in both HEX and UNICODE formats.
Adding Users
To add a user, you need to set their login (LOGIN), password (PWD), and/or SSH public key (SSH) for the user who will log in to the Raspberry Pi.
For example:
LOGIN=abc
PWD=”1 23”
SSH="ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2ENT8cu66peHViuOU5CQF abc@comp"
Quotes for SSH are mandatory. The username is specified in lowercase Latin letters and can include numbers, underscores, and hyphens. The password can include HEX and UNICODE characters and must also follow ANSI C string rules.
Static IP
To assign a static IP, you need to set the static address of the Raspberry Pi, the subnet prefix (usually 24 or 16), the gateway address for internet access, and the DNS server address. Fields starting with ETH are used for Ethernet, and those starting with WIFI are used for WiFi.
For example:
ETH_IP="192.168.1.2/24"
ETH_GATE="192.168.1.1"
ETH_DNS="1.1.1.1"
WIFI_IP="192.168.1.3/24"
WIFI_GATE="192.168.1.1"
WIFI_DNS="8.8.8.8"
If you are using the Base Station in a network without internet access, do not specify a DNS. If your network has no gateway (for example, a direct connection between the Base Station and a laptop), do not specify a gateway.
Reconfiguration While Running
This section is intended for advanced users and rare professional scenarios. Occasionally, a base station is installed in a remote location where physically accessing the SD card is not feasible. For example, you may need to add a new user for SSH access, but the station is located far away.
In such cases, you can perform a live reconfiguration by downloading the RtkBaseConfigure.sh file and editing it using a text editor that preserves line endings — for example, Notepad++ or Far Manager.
First, review the section titled “Configuration via Text File.” Then, uncomment and modify the necessary lines in the script according to your requirements.
Once edited, upload the modified file to the base station using the manual update feature. To do this:
- Go to the following URL: http://rtkbase.local/settings?update=manual
- Click on the “Check Update” button.
- In the form that opens, click “Choose file”, select the modified RtkBaseConfigure.sh file, and then click “Submit.”
The message will contain logs showing whether the configuration was successfully applied. After reading the message, click “Cancel” to close the window.
Network Manager
Starting with version 1.9.9, the web interface includes a Network Manager. It allows you to configure WiFi through the web interface by displaying the wireless networks available around the station, connecting to the selected network, and saving passwords. It also allows you to set the WiFi country (regulatory domain), configure static IP addresses, and enable Access Point mode.
Open the Settings page and find the Network row in the System settings section. Click the Manage network button.
The Network manager window opens:
The window contains, from top to bottom:
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Address table — the station's network interfaces and the addresses assigned to them. eth0 is the wired interface; wlan0 is WiFi.
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WiFi region — the country the station is located in.
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WiFi switch and Refresh button — enable the radio and rescan for networks.
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Network list — Connected: the network the station is currently joined to. Saved networks: networks whose passwords the station has stored. Available networks: all networks within range.
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Access Point mode — the station broadcasts its own WiFi.
Set the region first
WiFi frequencies and channels are regulated differently in each country (see the "WiFi Region Standard" section). Before anything else, tell the station where it is located. Click the WiFi region field to open a searchable list of countries. Start typing the country name in English, or its two-letter code, to filter the list, then click your country.
Until a region is set, the station uses a minimal, globally permitted channel set. Some networks — 5 GHz networks in particular — may not appear in the scan, and Access Point mode remains disabled. Selecting the region removes these restrictions.
Connecting to a network
Find your network under Available networks. Each entry shows:
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Signal strength — the bars on the left; more green bars mean better reception.
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A padlock — the network is password-protected;
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Band and channel — 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, with the channel number the access point operates on.
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MAC address — the access point's hardware identifier, for example 02:00:00:00:01:00.
A network may appear in the list twice. This is a single access point broadcasting on both bands. Either entry will work: 5 GHz is usually faster, while 2.4 GHz penetrates walls better.
Click your network to open the connection dialog.
Enter the network password and click Connect. No other settings are required — Remember this network is selected by default, so the station stores the password and reconnects automatically after a reboot. Use the eye button to reveal the password and verify it before connecting.
A few seconds later the network moves to the Connected section, along with the address the station has received:
Disconnect leaves the network but does not erase the password: the entry simply moves to Saved networks.
Saved networks
Each saved network has a three-dot menu on the right:
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Connect — join this network;
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Change password — update the stored password, for example after changing it on the router.
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IP settings — select automatic (DHCP) or static addressing. Intended for advanced deployments; most installations do not require it.
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Forget — remove the network and delete its stored password.
Hidden network
A hidden network does not broadcast its name and therefore does not appear in the list. Click Add hidden network… below the list, enter the network name (SSID), select the security type, enter the password and click Connect.
Access Point mode
Instead of joining an existing network, the station can broadcast one of its own, much like a portable router. This is invaluable in the field, where no network is available and you need to connect to the station directly from a phone or laptop.
Important: the station has a single radio. While Access Point mode is active, the station cannot be connected to another WiFi network, and the network list is unavailable. In this mode, internet access can reach the station only over Ethernet or a USB modem.
To enable it, set the region first — Access Point mode cannot be enabled without one. Then turn on the Access Point mode switch to expand the form:
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SSID — the network name the station broadcasts. RtkBase by default.
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Security — the security type. WPA2 + WPA3 is recommended: it is supported by both older and newer devices.
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Password — at least 8 characters. Record it somewhere safe.
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Hidden network — suppresses broadcasting of the SSID. Rarely necessary.
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Band, Mode, Channel — the frequencies used for broadcasting. If you are unsure, leave the defaults (All / Auto / Auto) and the station will select them automatically.
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AP IP address — the station’s address in its own network, 192.168.50.1 by default.
Click Save to start the access point.
Access point settings persist across reboots: if the station is powered off while the access point is active, the access point is restored at the next power-up. To return to normal WiFi operation, simply turn the Access Point mode switch off.
Copying WiFi settings to another station
The Export and Import buttons at the bottom of the window save the complete WiFi configuration — region, saved networks with their passwords, and access point settings — to a file, and restore it from that file. This is useful when deploying several stations: configure one, then import the file on the remaining units.
© Eltehs SIA 2025
